Is Shelby on way to being national baseball landmark?

The goal for the American Legion World Series in Shelby is to become what Omaha, Neb., is to the College World Series and Williamsport, Pa., is to the Little League World Series. Is it on its way?

Clark Leonard

There’s no doubt about the vision local organizers have for the future of the American Legion World Series in Shelby.

The goal is to become what Omaha, Neb., is to the College World Series and Williamsport, Pa., is to the Little League World Series. Those communities, which have hosted their respective events for more than 60 years each, are synonymous with the tournaments they host.

It’s something Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Vince Matteo has seen firsthand when showing Howard J. Lamade Stadium, which hosts the Little League event, to businesses considering moving to that area.

“I’ve seen them look down at the field and get tears in their eyes,” Matteo said.

It’s the kind of response that comes after growing up wanting to play in such a venue.

Pat Mooney coaches the Omaha (Prep), Neb., team that played in the 2012 ALWS in Shelby. Being from the Omaha area and visiting Shelby, he noticed a similar feel.

“Everybody knew someone,” Mooney said. “I felt the same thing in Shelby. It was family-oriented.”

‘Healthy paranoia’

Kathryn Morrissey, executive director of College World Series of Omaha Inc., said an openness to change is essential for a strong event. An example of that was moving the CWS from historic Rosenblatt Stadium to TD Ameritrade Park in 2011.

“The thing that makes the CWS so successful here is that we’ve been able to keep the things that people enjoy while staying ahead of the curve and changing things when they need to be changed,” Morrissey said. “We all have a pretty healthy paranoia. We never take it for granted. We’re always looking for ways to make it better.”

Tournaments such as the CWS and LLWS keep things fresh by adding different elements.

Williamsport hosts a “Grand Slam Parade” that now draws about 50,000 annually in its ninth year. It’s now in its fourth year of having a “Williamsport Welcomes the World” festival the Friday before championship weekend.

“Each year there’s a new wrinkle to it,” Matteo said. “Nothing beats the fact that so many boys and girls play little league baseball. It becomes part of their psyche.”

Eddie Holbrook, co-chairman of the World Series executive committee in Shelby, said his group has taken a similar approach. That includes yearly upgrades to the stadium, this year’s inaugural 7th Inning Stretch Festival, and seeking to market the event as professionally as possible through social media.

Shelby first hosted the ALWS in 2008, and the current 2013 tournament is the fourth at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium.

‘Treat them like rock stars’

University of South Carolina head baseball coach and Shelby native Chad Holbrook, who has coached six times in the College World Series, has also visited the ALWS in Shelby.

“The players and coaches know when they walk into an event if it’s going to be first-class with the way they’re welcomed,” said Chad Holbrook, who is Eddie Holbrook’s son.

Eddie Holbrook took it a step further.

“Our challenge is to make sure they leave with good feelings and go home saying good things about us in their community,” he said.

Morrissey said in Omaha the community takes prides in the CWS and embracing fans and student-athletes — “treat them like they’re rock stars.”

Mooney and his Omaha team certainly had such an experience in Shelby.

“If they do what they did last year, I don’t think they’ll have any problem making it a permanent site. It was first-class. We were treated great,” Mooney said. “We were a bunch of Catholic boys from Omaha, and we were hosted by a Baptist church. We were accepted by the whole community. It was cool.”

‘Chance to make community look good’

“We’re constantly looking at what we can do to bring the community into it," Eddie Holbrook said of the American Legion World Series in Shelby.

He added that the community's commitment and support has been vital.

“This is your opportunity to make the community look good on a national scale,” Eddie Holbrook said.

Matteo said an event like the Little League World Series’ reputation is “just something that builds up over time.”

But he pointed to the games getting on TV as a turning point.

“That’s kind of when it exploded,” Matteo said.

The ALWS is currently broadcasted via ESPN3, an online branch of the sports media network.

Chad Holbrook appreciates the way Shelby has embraced the ALWS.

“The town of Shelby has really wrapped its arms around the event. That makes it special,” he said. “That’s the feeling you got when you were in Omaha.”

It’s the special ingredient that can elevate a tournament.

“You can have a baseball tournament anywhere, but you can’t have an event anywhere,” Chad Holbrook said. “You have to put in time and commitment, and it’s obvious that Shelby’s done that.”